My daughter took over the guest bedroom and since this room was graced with my mother's dark, antique furniture, a little updating for a young-at-heart girl was my enjoyable project.

The drapes were to stay, but bright and colorful fabric was paired. Green and pink are the colors with lots of flowers. This fabric was picked up in the thrift store (it's actually 2 heavy tablecloths) and is used as a headboard slipcover:This metal angel was also a find, and daughter has named it "Gloria".Ribbons tied to a mercury glass type ornaments:A close-up:This darling pillow came from Craigslist for $5. I liked the classic black and white theme:But I added some adorable pink buttons and the middle will be monogrammed with her initial "S". I'll post a pic as soon as it's finished.Oh, and since this blog is essentially about designing on a shoestring budget; I gotta tell you that the sheet set was only $6 at Goodwill. Talk about luck! How cute is this?

Below, I added vintage plates above the Eastlake dresser. I like these plates because of the rose artwork on them.

Below is a shelf with more of the thrift store fabric to add some eye-catching color:With DD's name on top:Some nice silk roses in vases painted by DD. We added some ribbon for a fun, young look:Also hot-glued some trim with tassels:I found I like adding ribbon to flower arrangements:The chandy I did some time ago fits this room perfectly:Some artwork I have done. I added more pink so that it fits into this room:More fun artwork:A happy room for a very happy girl!Sweet dreams, Shannon! This was a super fun project to do,And of course, it was................

I've recently started collecting antique English Blue Willow china because I like the pattern. This platter was found at the thrift store for only 64 cents. But the story behind the painting is interesting, too.

Some versions of the Willow pattern have 3 people on the bridge, some only 2 or even 1. Most, but not all, have the 2 love birds. Usually, there is a willow tree, orange trees, a bridge with people, an island, a boat in the lake, a fence, and a tea house. Usually, but not always.The borders might be different also. Some borders are decorated with butterflies and moths, some with fish eggs and some have a fleur-de-lis design. All love birds should be facing each other, but, their distance apart really is of no importance.

Here's the Chinese fable:

Once upon a time, a Chinese Mandarin of high degree lived in a Pagoda behind a strong fence and under the branches of a large orange tree. Nearby, a weeping willow hung over the river. This nobleman had a very beautiful daughter named Kong-Shee, whom he had promised in marriage to an old, but wealthy merchant, Tan-Jin.

The girl, however, had fallen in love with her Father's secretary, Chang, whom she met in secret and to whom she had sworn eternal fidelity.

When her Father discovered these meetings, he dismissed Chang from his service and threatened him with a lingering death, while he imprisoned his erring Daughter in her room overhanging the river until she should promise to forget her lover and marry the elderly merchant.

One day a coconut shell came floating past her window bearing a love letter from Chang. He mourned their fate and declared that life without her was worthless, and that if she married another he would commit suicide.

In her reply Kong-Shee proclaimed her devotion and told her lover that he must gather the fruit he coveted (herself) when the willow blossom was dropping on the bough. This hint gave him the approximate date of the wedding to the elderly man.

The wedding day arrived and Chang mingled among the numerous guests. He saw Kong-Shee and persuaded her to elope with him, but they were soon discovered, and as the pair were crossing the bridge her Father almost caught them.

Kong-Shee is carrying a distaff (emblem of her virginity), Chang a box containing hew jewels, and the pursuing father, a whip.The lovers found a temporary hiding place in the small house at the end of the bridge, and signalled to the little boat on the water to take them to Changs home (in the upper portion of the design) but the angry father noticed them, and knocked at the door intending to beat them to death with his whip.

At this moment of danger, the Gods intervened to save the lovers, and changed them into turtle doves, which can be seen flying in company from the paternal vengeance. They lived happily ever after.Two birds flying high,A Chinese vessel, sailing by.A bridge with three men, sometimes four,A willow tree, hanging o'er.A Chinese temple, there it stands,Built upon the river sands.An apple tree, with apples on,A crooked fence to end my song.

Scored a very nice Waverly window panel at the thrift store last week and didn't know how I'd use it at the time. Then, I got inspired by reading other blogs and in an instant I knew what to do with it.

Here is my grandmother's dresser with my mom's glass display case on top. The contents are rather boring and they are really just sentimental objects to me, and not really of interest to anyone else. So, I wanted to store them behind a closed door.Ta-da! A little hot glue, scissors and a ruler to cut up the 5 panels was all it took to bring these pieces up to date. I really like how it turned out. For only $3.99.

The guest room will be changed over to a personal bedroom by my lovely DD who likes bright, clear colors. By chance, at a thrift store this past weekend, we found 2 large tablecloths that have all the great colors that she wants.And then I found this beautiful chair on Craigslist ($50)- that had only been up on the board for a few minutes! I will pick this baby up on Saturday. My plan is using the more sedate colors/pattern of the chair to balance DD's bright flower colors. The rest of the furniture in the room is dark antiques, so I think this punch of color will liven and update the room.

The fabric will be used as a headboard slipcover and as a wall hanging. I'm getting started on this right away! More pics coming soon!

Couldn't move on to other projects until this vignette got tweaked a bit more. I changed out the pics to make this about my dad, who passed over in 2002. Very handsome, loving and funny. Into the apothecary jar holding sea shells from South Padre Island, (where we vacationed with sister Jane, who winters near there) I slipped a vintage pic of dad holding me as a baby.I love that my home reflects what is meaningful to me. And isn't that the ideal we nesters shoots for?